Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
KTLA
L.A. Metro rider shot dead hours after MTA’s news conference on transit safety
By Josh DuBose,
15 days ago
A suspect is in custody after yet another deadly incident on a Metro transit bus, this time in Commerce, authorities confirmed to KTLA.
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to Slauson and Boxford avenues just before 5 p.m. on reports of a person suffering from a gunshot wound, authorities said in a news release .
Authorities said that both victim and the suspect were passengers on the bus and that there were at least 7 other riders, as well as the driver, at the time of the incident.
“The suspect approached the victim from behind, pointed a firearm at the victim, the victim sustained a gunshot wound, the suspect fled on foot and he was captured shortly thereafter on Peachtree Street and Eastern Avenue,” LASD Lt. Arthur Spencer said.
The victim was later taken to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced deceased.
The shooting comes just hours after board members of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority held a press conference Thursday morning to discuss a rash of high-profile crimes across the Metro bus and train lines and announce plans to increase law enforcement presence throughout the system.
In March, a transient armed with an airsoft gun hijacked a Metro bus and crashed into the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Los Angeles.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, who serves as chair of the Metro board, said she directed an “immediate surge” of law enforcement personnel on Metro buses, trains and stations to address the concerns of drivers and passengers.
MTA Board members, Bass and officials on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors were critical of the presence – or lack thereof – of law enforcement personnel on Metro transit buses and trains during Thursday’s news conference.
Metro contracts its law enforcement service to the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Long Beach Police Department. The value of those contracts total more than $150 million.
“We have a responsibility to each and every rider and bus driver: they have to feel safe on Metro,” said Metro Vice Chair and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn at the news event. “Our law enforcement contracts are essential to safety, but they don’t do anyone any good if officers are not riding our trains and buses.”
The board recently approved the acquisition of barriers to be placed between drivers and passengers on all Metro buses.
In a statement to KTLA about Thursday’s fatal shooting aboard a bus, Metro said:
“The tragic incident this afternoon aboard a Metro bus in the Commerce area exemplifies how violence is increasing in society overall and spilling into our local communities. Metro is saddened by this incident and extends our deepest sympathies to the victim’s family. Metro thanks the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for their quick apprehension of a person of interest. Anyone with any information about this incident should call the LASD Transit Services Bureau at 323-563-5000.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0